Site guide
Q: I am a carer and have managed on my own up to now, but life is getting more and more difficult. What should I do?
A: Usually the first thing to do is to contact Social Services. All the services they give are provided on the basis of an assessment, so you should ask for the needs of the person you care for to be assessed. Ask for a Carers Assessment at the same time, so that your needs can be included. You may also want to contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau to check whether there are any benefits you or the person you care for are entitled to, which would help you to buy the help you want. Staff in any of the Carers Network organisations can talk through your needs with you, so please do contact your nearest one first if you are unsure of how to proceed.
You can get more information from:
West Sussex Carers Support Services (formerly West Sussex Carers Network)Contact details for West Sussex Adults' and Children and Young People's Services (health and social care)
The Citizen's Advice Bureau - A national voluntary organisation providing free information and advice on a wide range of issues. The website contains a great deal of useful information on a huge range of topics.